Are Todays Natural Disasters A Foretaste Of How Things Will Really Be When Angry God Unleashes His Wrath?

Prophecy addicts and many Church of God leaders seem to get giddy with delight anytime a natural disaster strikes people around the world. They view these disasters as divine retribution from an angry God so pissed off that He has to deliver continual warning signs before He really loses it and obliterates one-third of humanity and the natural world. It's a God with lightning bolts in His hands and a big thick ledger in front of Him where He's been writing down every single failure we've committed.

This kind of reasoning is understandable when a church is based entirely on old covenant belief systems—and which, for some unknown reason, does not take delight in a new and better covenant that eliminates the old one.

An angry God is always predictable: Do what's right, and God is happy; do something wrong, and God is angry. It's relatively easy to navigate the world that way. Black-and-white, either/or worlds are simple to maneuver in—they don't require thinking. Someone else has laid out what you're supposed to believe or do, and you know that if you don't, something bad will happen. We need someone in charge, keeping score. Because He can be so quick to do that, it gives us the perceived impression that we can do it too.

Is an angry God really a projection of our own guilt and shame? Church of God leaders have told us for decades that we are unworthy and condemned, and that we should expect God to be angry. Using this kind of flawed thinking, church leaders and members search the Bible looking for ways an angry God is just itching to punish us. That's the kind of God that Armstrongism has created—one that punishes and excludes, just like we do when slighted by someone or when we're angry with them.

Rod McNair, in the July LCG member letter, remarked on how the Texas flash flood that hit the youth camp and killed so many was just a foretaste of what an angry God has in store for the world

Mr. Gerald Weston has asked me to write to you, as he and his wife are currently working with our young people at our two-weeks-long teen summer camp in Athens, Texas. Athens is about 300 miles from the devastating floods that occurred two weeks ago, along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Tragically, 134 people perished—and 101 are still missing—from the tragic flash flooding that occurred in the early morning hours of July 4. As we read reports of the tragedy, it’s astonishing how quickly the water levels rose, and the awesome power it unleashed on hundreds of unsuspecting victims. Be sure to remember the victims and their families in your prayers in their time of need. And we must all pray daily for God’s protection, as these types of natural disasters are only a foretaste of what the Bible says will come in the times ahead.

He then jumps to the US supporting Israel in their fight with Hamas, and then he has to interject with this about his angry god, and as usual, it's all about sex. It is the Living Church of God, after all:

But at the same time, the descendants of Judah and Joseph have squandered the overwhelming material blessings they both inherited as sons of Jacob. God intended the descendants of Jacob to become model nations of decency and integrity, showing the rest of the world how to obey God’s laws (Deuteronomy 4:6). Instead, both the U.S. and Israel today are known around the world for their promotion of immorality and sexual deviance. 

 

God is not mocked. Just as He has blessed our nations remarkably, He can also bring us down, with breathtaking speed, because of pride. And Bible prophecy shows it will happen. The book of Hosea details a prophecy of Joseph and Judah that seems to have dual application. In ancient times, the northern House of Israel (led by Ephraim, one of Joseph’s sons) collapsed, overthrown by the Assyrians in 721 BC. The southern House of Judah followed after, conquered by the Babylonians, in 586 BC. Hosea writes, “The pride of Israel testifies to his face; therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them” (Hosea 5:5). 

 

LCG, like so many legalistic churches, regularly gets mocked for its hypocrisy, and that does not sit well with church leaders. So, they unleash their "God is not mocked" comment to justify their own anger at being mocked. An angry God has a right to be angry, and so do they!

They so desperately need to see a national chastisement that placates their angry God.

This is speaking of the Great Tribulation, a time Christ prophesied of, which will be like no other in human history (Matthew 24:21). It will be a time when nations that should have known better will be punished for their refusal to follow God’s laws, as revealed in the Bible. 

 

But if you read on, you see the context also shows that this time of national chastisement will be followed by a widespread and profound national repentance. Notice the next verse: “I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me” (Hosea 5:15). Many modern theologians and pastors emphasize that the church needs to move beyond a simplistic view of God's anger and focus on the broader biblical narrative of love, redemption, and restoration. 

 

Why is McNair so angry that "modern theologians" seek to move beyond the simplistic God of the absolutists? Jesus irritates the hell out of legalists. How dare God love a sinner! How dare God redeem a sinner before them, the one true church? How dare God bring restoration and wholeness to them when an angry God wants to spank them? Armstrongism loves to talk about a soon-coming Kingdom of God where everyone will live in harmony and peace, and a true Sabbath rest will be the theme of the day. Yet, hardly any COG leader or minister ever tries to bring forth that kingdom as a reality to those in the world around them. Bringing love, redemption, and restoration to the world around them is not a present reality, but it should be. They should be so excited to share that love that they can't shut up about it.

McNair ends with this:

Joseph and Judah will together acknowledge their sin and seek the true God, in sincere repentance and worship. How can this be speaking of any time other than the coming millennial reign of Christ? Jesus Christ will have returned to earth to set up His glorious Kingdom, and there will be a time of prosperity and peace like the world has never known. Just as the sons of Jacob will fall together because of their sins, so they will also earnestly repent together and finally seek God. 

 

You who are reading this letter are part of a Work that is boldly proclaiming these events to the descendants of Jacob and to the world. Your support of this Work helps our dear friends and neighbors understand the why behind today’s news. And it gives them vitally important information about what is to come and what they can do about it now 

 

Imagine what kind of world we would have if those who claim to be the truest Christians on this earth today actually believed in that kingdom so much that they sought to bring it to the world around them in this very moment in time? That would inspire people to the repentance that COG leaders want to see happen. Instead, it is an endless drone of an angry God just itching to spank the world with vengeance and anger.

Sadly, that kind of ungodly character is not shaped by the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized love, compassion, and forgiveness—the God who dishes out unconditional grace.

Perhaps Jesus did not come to change God's mind about us, but for us to change our minds about God? 

Nothing infuriated 1st-century and 21st-century legalists more than Jesus sitting down with sinners to share a meal, laugh, have a good time, and—worst of all—forgive those who had failed to live up to all of the rigid rules. Legalists back then, just as today, need an angry God ready to smite their enemies. They needed Jesus to step in and smite the sinners and unbelievers; instead, they got a God who sat down and ate with them! Scandalous!

Jesus exemplified the God who was slow to anger, overflowing with mercy. Compassion was the action of the day. Just like today, the only people who get angry with Jesus' actions are those who need an angry God dripping with retribution—a God who excludes while backslapping the truest Christians on earth today. In their eyes, the cross never satisfied that angry God; in fact, the cross is widely mocked in Armstrongism to this very day.

The cross carried this message: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” 

Isn't it about time that COG leaders and ministers practiced that simple phrase instead of gleefully getting their rocks off at all of the destruction their angry God is ready to dish out?

The entire point of the gospel message is that God seeks to draw us in, instead of a so-called gospel about a God seeking to keep sinners out. How dare those Catholics and teetotalling Baptists be the first to arrive in the Kingdom of God to greet them when they finally arrive! Scandalous!

Grace isn't for those who have it all right; it is for those who admit they don't. The Christian walk is not about proving yourself at the feet of an angry God who might have an eraser in His hand and crosses off a few lines here and there.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. NIV Isaiah 1:18

Crackpot Prophet: Forest Fires Are God's Wrath Being Poured Out On The World

Herbert W. Armstrong had no idea how many absolute blithering idiots would emerge after his death, self-appointing themselves as God's great preservers of truth.

No one could have ever imagined that a disgraced church leader would try and bribe a uniformed officer of the law to not arrest him for public drunkenness, nor that he would traipse around the woods of Oregon looking for a dirty old rock, haul it back to Oklahoma, and claim Christ was returning to that said rock to establish His kingdom on Earth. No one could have ever imagined that the gospel message was really one that included Irish Dance as a witness to the world. No one could have imagined that this same moron would claim Jeremiah had buried the Ark of the Covenant in the Hill of Tara in Ireland and that this self-anointed righteous one's followers would be the ones to dig it up.

No one could have ever imagined that a Church of God leader would be sent to prison for tax fraud for a biblical time period of 3½ years, as an astute judge did. No one could have imagined that said church leader's wife was carrying diamonds around in her underwear and on her fingers so that when it came time to flee to Jerusalem, where he was to give a witness, they would have money to spend.

No one could have ever imagined that a COG leader would command his followers to give him every single dime they had, sell their homes and businesses, send in retirement account money, and spend countless years claiming Christ was returning in the next few weeks. No one could have ever imagined that Jesus would be returning to Wadsworth, Ohio, prior to His return to the world. Apparently, a shopping trip at Giant Eagle was needed.

No one could have ever imagined that a vain narcissistic man, REJECTED by three different COG organizations for ordination, would self-appoint himself as a COG leader. This know-it-all would appoint himself as the one true end-time church, with its basis in the dreams and nightmares of various individuals. No one could have ever imagined that this same leader would take his ministry to Africa because no Caucasian nation would put up with his crap. No one could have imagined how ignorant this said man would be about how church-hopping former SDA/COG/Sabbatarians would be using him for money, laptops, seeds, etc., while they committed adultery, ran for political office, and would have shamans in his group practicing witchcraft. No one could have ever imagined that this guy would proclaim himself as the authority on every topic imaginable, from the Mayans to church history, the Catholic Church, and forest fires. Ah, yes! Forest fires.

No one could have ever imagined the complete mental breakdown of COG leaders in our lifetimes, yet here we are today with the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel blathering on about forest fires.

Fires and God’s Wrath

There have been massive fires raging in the State of California. The size and devastation of one fire qualifies it as a world event–and looks to be one of the costliest disasters in US history. What might the Bible have to say about fires? Is it possible that there are Biblical ramifications of fires? Especially fires of this magnitude and destruction. If there are any Biblical ramifications, what is God trying to say? Is it possible that fires of this magnitude have any relationship to the warnings God gave ancient Israel and are having an impact on us today? If so, why would the warnings given to ancient Israel have any effect on us? What do we have to do with ancient Israel? Dr. Thiel shines the light of Bible prophecy on these questions. By quoting several scriptures that relate directly to the questions just presented, Dr. Thiel reveals the warnings God is giving humanity in these end times. Dr. Thiel shows us, through the word of God, that by obeying the words of God, we can stop the destruction. Even if we fail on a national level, we can still succeed on a personal level.

Sing Along With Jelly

Imagine being a child in UCG and having to listen to this crap! 

And, here we thought Big Beak was pathetic!

"When we began looking at other groups to see where Christ was working, we found no group. Christ began using me."

 

Samuel Kitchen writes:

Mr Armstrong had to separate himself from the payroll of the Oregon Conference, because they wanted him to preach false doctrines. He cooperated with them, but he didn’t receive wages from them. He continued to preach the truth of God.

I think Mr Dean should follow his example.

I spent most of my life observing my father as a servant of Christ, following Christ and Christ being with him.

When we began looking at other groups to see where Christ was working, we found no group.

Christ began using me.

How many times have we heard this exact same phrase made by almost every splinter group self-appointed leader? Jesus no more appointed Samuel than He did Bob Thiel to his position.

Samuel continues:

It would be easier for me to go to the UCG, or some other group and become a member of that group. Maybe I’d find a wife and have a family of my own. Maybe I wouldn’t have to struggle against persecution as much, and maybe I wouldn’t be such an outcast.

But what keeps me here, is the Word of God! I believe what it says! I gave myself to Jesus Christ! I have no other purpose in this life. I didn’t choose this, I was chosen.

I didn’t raise up the Worldwide Church of God. Christ did through His apostle.

I didn’t choose Aaron Dean and appoint him, Christ did through His apostle.

He’s like a Joshua getting ready to exit Babylon. He thinks he has to be a Daniel. But God already gave the marching orders, and how can the Temple be restored if the servants who were appointed give up and refuse to return?

It takes one voice, like the Barry Manillo song goes. Im trying to stand up and be encouraging. I might end up with more scars because of it but man , family means a lot to me. Why can’t I put value on the Family of God? You deserve to live, don’t ya?

I believe God’s Word that says the Worldwide Church of God will come back together.(Zechariah 2) The Philadelphia candlestick still exists and will be protected!

Christ intervenes and returns when He does for the Elects sake. He loves this Church!

Now i may be ridiculed and laughed at and scorned, for fighting for this family, this Worldwide Church of God, but im just following Jesus Christ.

What about you brothers and sisters?

I do get lonely sometimes, because I don’t have anyone here with me. But I do have God, Christ and my spiritual family.

And that’s encouraging.

The family is growing. I can’t wait to see who will be there.